Staff Reports
A new wave of social-media outrage erupted this week after commentators seized on images and clips of Kanye West’s daughter, North, wearing what some called a “demonic” makeup look — yet another example of celebrity culture dragging children into adult spectacle. Whether intentionally provocative or simply the result of a child experimenting with special-effects makeup, the viral reaction tells you everything about our warped priorities: outrage fuels clicks, and clicks reward the adults who expose kids to it.
This isn’t some sudden stranger-danger phenomenon — North has been open about her interest in special-effects makeup for years, and her mother has publicly said she even brought in a teacher to show her how to create wounds and gore for pranks. Kim Kardashian has admitted that one of North’s theatrical makeup pranks was so realistic the housekeeper called authorities, which should clue any reasonable parent in that the kid is talented — but also that these are not normal childhood dress-up moments.
Of course the culture industry will applaud and monetize this — Kim and her team post makeup tutorials and character makeovers that rack up millions of views, normalizing increasingly edgy visuals for an ever-younger audience. When a nine- or twelve-year-old is trending for turning Mom into the Grinch or a Minion, it’s less about art and more about branding a child for profit and clicks. The media’s applause line is always the same: talent, creativity, empowerment — but the product sold is exposure.
Kanye West has long been a lightning rod, and he’s not shy about exercising his instincts as a father; he famously pushed back against his children wearing certain clothes and makeup as part of his religious convictions and parenting rules. Parents who object to sexualized or occult aesthetics on children aren’t being “old-fashioned” — they’re protecting innocence. Kanye’s history of public meltdowns and all-caps social media rants complicates his image, but it doesn’t erase the basic point that some celebrity parenting goes too far for kids.
Conservatives should call this what it is: a cultural problem, not a private family spat. Left unchecked, the entertainment industry and influencer class will continue to normalize grotesque imagery and adult themes for children because controversy equals engagement. We should defend parents who try to shield their kids from that conveyor belt of corruption and ask why the default response is to weaponize children for content.
There’s a simple, common-sense answer: let kids be kids. Encourage creativity in age-appropriate ways, teach discernment about what’s put on screens, and stop applauding every stunt that courts shock value. If a child is talented at special effects, fine — but parental discretion and limits matter; they’re not oppression, they’re protection.
At the end of the day, North West is a child with a family and a public circus surrounding her. Hardworking Americans who value family, faith, and decency should push back against the celebrity racket that packages childhood as content. Call out the influencers and outlets that profit from this, and stand with parents who say enough is enough.
